USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Acushnet > History of the Town of Acushnet, Bristol County, State of Massachusetts > Part 30
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CAPT. GEORGE J. PARKER
CAPT. GEORGE J. PARKER
PARKER, CAPT. GEORGE J., son of Capt. John J. (s. of Capt. Jona- than and Paretta L.) and wife Lucy N. (dau. George and Charity Nye) Taber of Acushnet, was b. at New Bedford March 20, 1836. He attend- ed the public schools till at the age of 15 he shipped as "foremast hand" on the Zone of Fairhaven. He made subsequent voyages as boat- steerer on the Montezuma; 3d mate on the William Wilson; 1st officer on the Antelope; then as master of the Orray Taft two voyages. He then started in the grocery business at Lund's corner, and a year later returned to the quarter-deck, sailing in the Mary Frazier, then command-
ing a fruiter between New Orleans and Honduras, concluding his long sea service as master of the Orray Taft, which was lost in Hudson's bay, returning home in 1873. The following spring he began farming where he now resides. The town has chosen Capt. Parker a member of the School Committee three years; a member of the Board of Health ; a constable; a trustee of the Town public library since it was established; and in all these offices he has been a faithful public servant. He is a, member of Eureka Lodge of Free Masons and an attendant of the Congre- gational church. Capt. Parker's g. f. Jonathan was a captain of mer. chantmen from New York to France. His f. John J. a successful whaling captain, lived in early life near Lund's corner, and the last 20 years of his life on his place at Potter's corner in this town. Captain Parker m. in 1863 Elizabeth C., dau. of Lewis S. and Esther D. Pope, who d. in 1894, and of this marriage there are nine children living. He m. 2nd in 1898 Lillian M. Wood b. in Middleboro. They have one child, Paretta L, who has the distinction of being the 9th generation from Capt. Myles Standish.
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POPE FAMILY
The Popes of Acushnet are from Thomas1 Pope, b. 1608, who appears in Plymouth as early as 1631. Hle m. 1st An, dau. Gabriel and Catherine Fallowell, and 2nd Sarah, dau. of John and Sarah (Casey) Jenney. Sarah had ch. (1) Seth2, b. 1648; (2) Thomas2, b. 1651; (3) John2, b. 1653, and (4) Susanna, who m. Jacob2 Mitchell, s. of Experience1 Mitchell. Thomas d. 1683.
SETH POPE
POPE, SETH2 (above), was commissioned as Justice of the Peace May 27, 1692, and this was renewed till his death. He was Selectman of the town of Dartmouth in 1685, 1686, 1687, 1688, 1689, 1699, 1702 and 1705. He was commissioned as Lieutenant of a militia company June 4, 1686, and later was made a Colonel. He was one of the first settlers here and lived on Sconticut neck, where he had a grist mill and a store from which he supplied the Indians with provisions. Here he built a block house near which his son Thomas erected a dwelling house of logs. These stood on the west side of the road a few yards south of the Mattapoisett road. The following is the inscription on the headstone of this Seth2 in the Precinct cemetery in this town: "Here lyes buried ye body of Seth Pope, of Dartmouth who died March ye 17th, 1727, aged 79 years," and beside him was placed his wife Deborah. His homestead was on Sconti- cut neck. The summer resort known as Pope beach was a part of it and therefore its name.
THOMAS POPE
POPE, THOMAS+, John3, Seth2, Thomas1, lived in the house on the west side of the Fairhaven road, a short distance south of Slocum road. It was burned by the British in their famous raid in 1778. On the head- stone of Thomas4, father of Edward, is this: "Mr. Thomas Pope dyed March ye 2, 1784, in the 75th year of his age." Beside this is the stone of his wife Thankful (Dillingham), mother of Edward5. He m. 2nd Alice Jenney.
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EDWARD POPE
POPE, EDWARD5, son of Thomas4 and wife Thankful Dillingham, was born Feb. 25, 1740, in a house on the west side of Fairhaven road in this town, which was burned in the British raid. His early education was a meager one but he availed himself of every opportunity to add to it later. He interested himself in public matters and through his natural ability and sterling qualities became a prominent figure in the affairs of this locality, where he was highly esteemed. He was one of the four men comprising the Bristol county bar in 1779. He was an honored judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was at one time collector of the port of New Bedford, where he then lived on the corner of Sixth and Union streets in a house which now stands on Market street opposite the drink- ing fountain. Judge Pope was taken prisoner by the British, but was released the following day. He m. 1st Elizabeth Bullard of Bos- ton, b. 1749, d. 1781; m. 2nd Mrs. Elizabeth Eliot, dau. of William and Mary (Brown) Greenleaf; b. Mar. 6, 1750, d. Dec. 4, 1841. The family were placed in a tomb he built in 1803 in the old burying ground on Second street.
ELIHU POPE
POPE, ELIHU6, son of Ebenezer A.5, Samuel4, Lemuel3, Seth2, Thomas1 and Rebecca (dau. of Jethro Allen of Fairhaven) Pope, was b. April 18, 1809, on the homestead in Acushnet where his father also was born and which he had inherited from his mother Elizabeth Akin. With the excep- tion of several sea voyages Elihu spent his life upon the homestead farm. In 1856 he built the house now standing on the Long Plain road, where he resided to the time of his death. This house is just back of the site of the old gambrel roof house in which he was born. He built in 1842 the blacksmith shop opposite his residence, where he worked at the trade for over thirty years. He m. Nov. 8, 1840, Rhoda D. (dau. of Elnathan and Mercy (Washburn) Taber), b. June 14, 1819. They had ch. (1) Rebecca Akin, b. Sept. 22, 1844, d. Feb. 12, 1846; (2) Silas (see elsewhere) ; (3) Abner Pease, b. Dec. 18, 1849; (4) Maria Louise, b. July 3, 1852 (see John A. Russell) ; (5) Charles Henry, b. July 17, 1854; (6) Mercy Pease, b. April 16, 1859; (7) Elihu Francis, b. Aug. 30, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Pope were both members of the Methodist church in Acushnet village. He lived to the age of nearly eighty-seven and d. Oct. 17, 1875,
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SILAS POPE
POPE, SILAS7, son of Elihu6, Eben- ezer A.5, Samuel+, Lemuel3, Seth2, Thomas1, . and wife Rhoda (see above), was born in Acushnet July 8. 1847. He chose the occu- pation of a whaleman and made his first voyage in the bark Three Brothers from New Bedford as foremast hand. By good judg- ment and push he soon reached the rank of master. Subsequent voy. ages were made in the Commodore Morris, Pacific, Daniel Webster, Bar- tholomew Gosnold, Young Phenix, Arctic, Palmetto, and Mermaid. In the fall of 1893 he went to St. Helena where he joined the Platina as first CAPT. SILAS POPE mate. He became ill and died at sea on this voyage Feb. 8, 1894. Captain Pope was popular with his officers and men, a successful sperm whaleman and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He married June 24, 1886, Carrie D. Cushman (see else- where).
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COL. ABIEL PIERCE ROBINSON
ROBINSON, COL. ABIEL PIERCE. son of Capt. Godfrey and Hannah6, (Abiel5, Ebenezer4, Isaac3, Isaac2, Abraham1,) (Pierce) Robinson, was b. in Raynham Aug. 7, 1796, where he resided till he bought what was known as the "Hammett Farm" on Rochester road, east of Long Plain, Oct. 24, 1824, where he and his bride moved and resided until their death. This farm was added to later by his purchase of the Wing, Davis and Cory farms, the whole now known as the "Colonel Robinson Farm." This he skillfully tilled, and besides was a dealer and expert in lumber, COL. ABIEL PIERCE ROBINSON an efficient land surveyor, a faithful official of the town and church, and a man, whose advice and assistance were often sought. He was distinctly of a religious nature. This characteristic was pre-eminent in his life and made him one of the leading and most efficient members of the Baptist church at Long Plain, with which he was closely identified many years. He inherited a military spirit and became a colonel of the State Militia. In politics he was a loyal member of the Democratic party. He died at his home Dec. 16, 1878. Colonel Robinson was one of the intelligent, industrious, thrifty Christian gentlemen of his day and generation. He m. Nov. 25, 1824, Chloe. dau. of Seth Dean of Raynham. She d. Aug. 23, 1859. They had ch. Sarah D., Mary F. D. and Chloe C. D., who m. Adoniram Gilmore of Raynham and had children Mary Frances, m. Daniel T. Devoll (see elsewhere), and Abiel P. R. (see elsewhere).
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JONES ROBINSON
ROBINSON, JONES, brother of Col. Abiel Pierce Robinson (above) and son of Godfrey and Hannah (Pierce) Robinson, was b. Oct. 5, 1808, at Raynham, Mass. He was educated in the public schools of Raynham, and fitted for college in a select school. He chose the profession of a physi- cian, but after six months of study he was obliged to abandon his pur- pose and became a teacher, in which occupation he was a marked success for a period of thirty years. He came to live in this town in early life, most of the time on his farm on the east side of Fair- JONES ROBINSON haven road. While a citizen here he held various town offices, including that of School Committee, for over 20 years; he was a Justice of the Peace over 40 years; represented the district in the Mass. House of Representatives in 1842 and 1843. About 1867 he removed to New Bedford where he was a member of the city council, an assessor and on the school committee. He superintended the laying of the first macadam on Acushnet avenue and the building of the first conduit of the water works. He was also a civil engineer and auc- tioneer. Both he and his wife were active members of the Congregational church at Lund's corner, having belonged to a church from childhood. He died Jan. 17, 1892, after a busy, upright, honorable career. Mr. Robinson m. June 7, 1829, Julia A. dau. of Elijah and Phebe Gushee of Raynham, who d. July 26, 1879. Children : (1) Julia E., educated in the public schools, the high school, Rochester Academy and a private school at New Bedford; m. Joseph Webster, M. D., of New Bedford; one child Isabelle R. (2) Isabil M .; educated in the town schools and at Wheaton Seminary ; m. George G. Hall, now proprietor of the Adams House, Bos- ton ; ch. George R. and Frank G., both in the Adams House. (3) Abbie F. R., educated in Acushnet and New Bedford High school; m. J. Frank Kirk, a grain dealer of that city.
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RUSSELL FAMILY
Allen was the first of the name to live in Acushnet. He was b. March 2, 1745, and d. Feb. 13, 1835. Before coming to this town he owned and operated saw mills near the Hix meeting house. As early as 1806 he bought the farm now owned by Thomas W. Knowles on the west side of Fairhaven road an eighth of a mile south of Parting Ways, and much of the land adjoining. For this he paid the then large sum of $5,100 or thereabouts, showing that he was a man of some means. He m. in 1781 Abigail, dau. of Gideon and Elizabeth Allen, who d. Nov. 11, 1815. Their childen were (1) Meribah; (2) Gideon, d. young; (3) Elizabeth d. young; (4) David, m. 1st Betsey Blackmer of Rochester, who d. in 1823; m. 2nd Mrs. Mary F. Blackmer; (5) Maria, m. John Taber; (6) Lemuel (see below) ; (7) Susan, m. Gamaliel Lincoln. Lemuel6, (Allen5, Abraham+, Joseph Jr.3, Joseph2, John1), sixth child of Allen and Abigail above was b. in Dartmouth April 20, 1791, and came to Acushnet with his parents when a boy of fourteen. He m. Mercy W. Taber of Acushnet March 21, 1810. She was b. April 24, 1794, d. March 18, 1863. He d. April 15, 1854. Their children were (1) George T. (see elsewhere) ; (2) Elizabeth b. March 28, 1813, d. young ; (3) Betsey B. b. March 11, 1815, d. March 17, 1879; (4) Allen (see elsewhere) ; (5) Nye T. b. Aug. 16, 1819, d. young.
GEORGE T. RUSSELL
GEORGE T. RUSSELL
RUSSELL. GEORGE T.7, son of Lemuel6 (above), was born at Acush- net village, then New Bedford, June 8, 1811. He always lived there or on Fairhaven road in the south part of the town. He was widely known as a dealer in real estate, especially woodland, of which he and his brother Allen were large holders, and both were considered experts in the value of such property. Mr. Russell always was deeply interested in the welfare of the town but declined to accept public office. He had a re- markable memory, which he re- tained to the time of his death and it was a great pleasure to talk with him and listen as he related incidents
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and described scenes of his early days. He d. May 16, 1899. Mr. Russell m. Oct 29, 1837, Rubey B., dau. Thomas, Jr., (Thomas, John, Edward, Ellis, Joseph, Edward, of the Mayflower) and Bathsheba Doty. b. April 10, 1816, d. Dec. 28, 1891. Children: (1) Abby, b. Nov. 3, 1838; (2) George T., Jr. (see below) ; (3) Charles L., b. Oct. 13, 1841; m. Mary E. Potter; child, Elizabeth L., b. Aug. 23, 1881; (4) Elizabeth A., b. April 10, 1845 ; m. Feb. 21, 1867, Israel D., s. of Rev. Israel Washburn; (5) Abby L., b. May 11, 1847; (6) Sylvia H., b. April 10, 1849; (7) Rubie D., b. Feb. 13, 1857; (8) Henry T., b. July 11, 1854, d. in infancy ; (9) Henry Thomas (see elsewhere).
ALLEN RUSSELL, SR.
RUSSELL, ALLEN, SR.7, son of Lemuel6 (above), was born March 16, 1817, at the "Squire Clark house" in the village. He was educated in the public schools, one of his teachers being "Betsey Pitcher," afterwards Elizabeth (Pitcher) Taber who dona- ted Tabor Academy, Marion. He was attacked with the whaling fever early and went out on the bark Java at the age of 16, but discon- tinued the life of a sailor at the end of the voyage. Later he became an extensive dealer in real estate, espe- cially woodland, of which he was an excellent judge. The only publicl office he could be persuaded to accept ALLEN RUSSELL, SR. was prudential committee of the school in the building, now the town house. He was an attendant upon religious services in the Old Precinct Meeting house and in the Methodist church. He was highly esteemed for his business integrity and upright life. He d. Jan. 26, 1888, at his home on Acushnet avenue, where he had resided since 1866. Mr. Russell m. Rhoda R., dau. of Ebenezer and Susanna (Beedon) Gifford, b. in North Dartmouth. Children: (1) JJohn A. (see elsewhere) ; (2) Allen, Jr. (see elsewhere).
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GEORGE T. RUSSELL, JR.
RUSSELL, GEORGE T.8, JR., son of George T., Sr.7 (above), and Rubey B. Russell, was b. in Acushnet Jan. 8, 1840. He is the 8th in descent from Edward Doty of the Mayflower. He was educated in the schools of Acushnet and New Bedford and Commercial college in Providence, R. I. At the age of eighteen he be- gan to teach and continued in this vocation with great success for 22 successive years. The town report of Acushnet for one of these years gives the following allusion to Mr. GEORGE T. RUSSELL, JR. Russell's ability as a teacher : "Mr. Russell enjoys an enviable reputa- tion as a successful teacher, exhibiting at all times those qualities so es- sential to success, namely : firmness, patience and self-possession." He taught in the schools of Acushnet, Fairhaven and New Bedford and in Schofield's Commercial college in Providence, R. I., and served the town of Acushnet as school committee for three years. Since 1875 he has been employed more or less of the time in the New Bedford Institution for Savings. Mr. Russell is a member of Middleboro Lodge No. 135, I. O. O. F., and Annawan Encampment, No. 8, of New Bedford.
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JOHN A. RUSSELL
RUSSELL, JOHN A.8, son of Allen Russell7, Sr. (above), was b. Aug. 8, 1849, in the "Capt. John Hawes house," east of the bridge in the village, and was educated in the pub- lic schools. He assisted his father in his farming and real estate busi- ness, and since his death has con- tinued the same and lives in the homestead on Acushnet avenue. He has been an active member of the Hancock Fire Engine company many years, holding the offices of clerk, assistant foreman and foreman with great acceptance. He was a mem- ber of the New Bedford Common Council in 1881. He has been a JOHN A. RUSSELL trustee of the Methodist church in the village many years and his wife is an official in the same society. Mr. Russell m. March 12, 1891, Maria L., dau. of Elihu (see elsewhere) and Rhoda (Taber) Pope of this town.
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HENRY THOMAS RUSSELL
HENRY THOMAS RUSSELL
RUSSELL, HENRY THOMAS8, son of George T.7 (above) and Rubey B., was b. in Acushnet June 19, 1855. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and the public schools and Friends' Acad- emy of New Bedford. Mr. Russell resides with his sister Rubie D. at the homestead in Acushnet village and, with his brother George T., Jr., manages the unsettled estate of his father. He is a member and official of the Methodist church and has the confidence and esteem of his towns- men. Mr. Russell is unmarried.
ALLEN RUSSELL, JR.
RUSSELL, ALLEN8, JR., son of Allen7 and Rhoda R. Russell (above), was born Aug. 2, 1856, in Acushnet and was educated in the public schools. Mr. Russell engaged in the grocery business at Swift's corner Dec. 1, 1886, and on the 15th of the same month was commissioned Postmaster of Acushnet, the postoffice being in the store. He gave up the business and office in 1893. In 1892 he served as alderman in the New Bed- ford city government. He is a Jus- tice of the Peace, settles estates and has done clerical work in both National and Savings banks. For a number of years Mr. Russell has been the faithful and efficient secre- tary of the South Bristol Farmers' club. Acushnet avenue.
ALLEN RUSSELL, JR.
He resides at the homestead on
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ABRAM SHERMAN, JR.
SHERMAN, ABRAM, JR., was b. in Acushnet April 4, 1777. He was a descendant of Philip Sherman of the present town of Dartmouth and son of Abram and Peace (dau. of Thomas and Ruth (Bennett) Tabor) Sherman. After attending the public schools in his native town he served an apprenticeship at the printing business in New Bedford. A little later he commenced the publication of a weekly newspaper called the Columbian Record, of which the first number was issued Dec. 8, 1798. This was the second newspaper published in New Bedford, the first one being the Medley, of which the proprietor was John Spooner of whom Mr. Sherman learned his trade. In early life he became a useful member of the Society of Friends. For thirty years he was engaged in business as a bookseller. His store was on the northeast corner of Union and Water streets. He was a writer of both prose and poetry, and gathered much material in relation to the early history of this locality. By his will he established two funds, the income of one to be devoted to charitable, and the other to educational purposes. He died Dec. 26. 1847.
CAPT. WILLIAM IRVING SHOCKLEY
SHOCKLEY, CAPT. WILLIAM IRVING, son of Capt. Humphrey Alden, and Hannah Grey (Wilson) Shockley, was b. at Fall River, June 26, 1855, and educated in the public schools there. Humphrey was s. of Capt. Joseph and Mary (Alden) Shockley, and Mary was a direct descendant of John and Priscilla Alden. William Irving shipped in the whaler Louisa at the age of 16 and a year later was promoted to boat- steerer. He went as 3d mate of the Charles W. Morgan in 1878; then a voyage in the Bounding Billow, and as first officer in the Fleetwing. His subsequent voyages were as mas- Photo. by Jas. E. Reed, New Bedford ter ; in the Fleetwing, Jacob A. How- CAPT. WILLIAM IRVING SHOCKLEY
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land, James Allen, Tamerlane, Canton, Sunbeam, and now sperm whal- ing in the bark Wanderer. Capt. Shockley has been a so-called lucky whaleman. His largest Arctic catch for the length of the voyage was in the Tamerlane, amounting to 11 whales, which produced 13,800 pounds of bone and 1,300 barrels of oil. Bone was worth at that time $4.00 per pound. His wife was with him two voyages. In February, 1889, he pur- chased the estate formerly owned by Capt. Henry Packard, east side of Long Plain road, a few rods north of Parting Ways. Capt. Shockley m. Dec. 4, 1884, Phebe Gifford, dau. Abiathar (son of Jacob and Hannah Weaver), and wife Emily Ann (dau. Alden and Emily A. Reed) Poole of North Dartmouth. They have one son, Bernard William Shockley, b. at Dartmouth Oct. 18, 1885.
CALEB SLADE
SLADE, CALEB, son of Peter D. (who was s. of Caleb and Hannah (Davis) of Dartmouth and Sarah B. (Briggs) Slade, was b. March 11, 1852,, at the homestead at Long Plain. Caleb and Hannah had six children, of whom Mary m. William Barker, Jr., of Smith Mills, whose dau. Mary E. m. Capt. Alden T. Pot- ter ; Hannah m. Charles F. Morton of Fairhaven ; Benjamin, a resident of this town. Mr. Slade was educated in the public schools at Long Plain, Friends' School at Providence, R. I., and Bridgewater Normal school. He began teaching in 1871 and continued in this nearly six years at Dartmouth, at Westport and CALEB SLADE Mattapoisett high schools, and Acush- net grammar school. He conducted a grocery and dry goods store at Long Plain from' 1877 till 1889. In this period he was Town Clerk, Treasurer and Collector of Taxes 7 years, School Committee and Postmaster 9 years. In 1889 he built the block
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southeast corner of Coggeshall street and Acushnet avenue, New Bedford, where he was engaged in the grocery business 10 years. In 1899 he was made secretary and treasurer of the Attleboro Savings and Loan Associa- tion, which position he has filled with ability and fidelity continuously to the present time. Mr. Slade m. July 31, 1873, Abbie J., dau. of Joshua Morse (see elsewhere) of Acushnet. Children : (1) Emerson Augustus, b. Oct. 11, 1876; educated in the public schools and Friends' School, Provi- dence, R. I .; now with a jewelry manufacturing company at Attleboro; m. Alice Reynolds of Acushnet. (2) Caleb Arnold, b. Aug. 2, 1882; edu- cated in public schools of New Bedford and Brown University.
SPOONER FAMILY
The Spooners of Acushnet are lineal descendants of William of Colchester, England, who was in Plymouth as early as 1637. He came to Acushnet about 1660. Here he and his sons held large tracts of land. They are among the 56 persons named in the confirmatory deed of Old Dartmouth by Governor Bradford. It is claimed on good authority that he built the first windmill in this locality for grinding corn. The writer is of the opinion that his log cabin and mill were situated on top of the hill on the west side of Fairhaven road. He was industrious and frugal ; accumulated a competence : "was sober and peacable in conversation and orthodox in the fundamentals of religion." William's1 son John2 resided northeast of the village. His son Lieut. William2 lived on or near the Philip A. Bradford estate, and his son Samuel2 inherited the homestead that extended from Slocum road to the brook at the south, and from the river-a mile or more easterly across Fairhaven road. Samuel2, the ances- tor of many of the Acushnet Spooners, was prominent in civil and religious affairs. He held several town offices, including Constable and Tax Col- lector. In his will he charged his sons to be kind to their "Honoured Mother and supply her Needs," thus at the last entreating them to fulfil the fifth Divine commandment. Three of the sons of Samuel2 settled in this town and many of their descendants attained positions of prominence here. They were William3, Samuel3, who inherited from his father a large tract of land which was the southeast part of the homestead. On this Samuel3 built a house in which he always lived. Samuel3 conveyed this property by a deed of gift to his son Elnathan4, who gave it to his son Thomas5. Thomas5 willed it to Lemuel, a son of his brother Seth5. who occupied it till his death in 1855, when it came into possession of Edward G. Dillingham after having been held by this line of Spooners about two centuries. A sketch of another son, Seth3, is given below.
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SETH SPOONER
SPOONER, SETH, son of Samuel (above) was b. in 1695 at the Spooner home near Parting Ways. He learned the weaver's trade and lived on his father's farm which he inherited but lost by endorsing the note of a subsequent bankrupt. In 1741 he purchased a farm of Joseph Taber, Jr., in which was only one acre of cleared land, situated north of Long Plain, where he lived for many years in a log cabin. This place has been owned by his descendants to the present time. Here he was a farmer and trader ; a man of usefulness and highly esteemed in the town, where he held many offices. He was the only son of his parents, thereby preserving this branch of the name from extermination. Seth m. in 1719 Rose Clark and had Walter and two daughters. He d. in 1787 and is said to have been the first laid in the Friends' burying ground at Long Plain.
HON. WALTER SPOONER
SPOONER, HON. WALTER, son of Seth (above) was b. in the primitive home at Parting Ways. His educational advantages must have been very meagre. His later career indicates that he was blessed with an abundance of native good sense, industry and perseverance. He helped his father erect the log cabin for the family where the new home was established north of Long Plain, He commenced a long and useful public career in 1759, when he was chosen a Selectman of Old Dartmouth, which office he held for 13 consecutive years, and many subsequent terms. He was nine years a Representative of the General Court from 1761; for 17 years a member of the Governor's Council, from 1770, covering the strenuous period of the Revolutionary war, when his superior judgment was in constant demand. He sat in the Convention which framed the constitution of this state. In 1781 Gov. Hancock manifested a just appre- ciation of his remarkable judicial ability by appointing him Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of this county. Judge Spooner was a patriot and statesman. He died in 1803 at his home in this town aged 82 years. A long time and intimate political associate said of him: “After Samuel Adams Judge Spooner was the most clear headed, far-seeing man I ever knew." Judge Spooner m. in 1748 Althea Sprague and they had two sons, Alden (below) and Seth. . It would require pages to relate
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